We have not found any cost information for this lawyer
Tonya Graser Smith
also known as Tonya Graser Smith, Tonya Smith
About Tonya
Biography
Ms. Smith focuses her practice on family law including divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, equitable distribution, and other family law matters. Since 2007, she has been practicing family and domestic law exclusively in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties. In 2011, Ms. Smith completed an eight-day trial school program through the American Bar Association Family Law Section. Since 2013, Tonya has remained a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Family Law. In 2015, she completed a two-day training for Collaborative Law Practice and is a member of the Charlotte Collaborative Divorce Professionals.
Ms. Smith believes families are the most important part of an individual’s life. Family relationships - good or bad, easy or difficult - help to shape one’s life and the lives of the other very important people that surround him/her. Ms. Smith believes her clients have a right and duty to protect and provide for their family. In order to protect the family and make children the number one priority, one must first have control over family finances and be able to provide for himself/herself.
The decisions clients face in family law situations regarding family and finances are of upmost importance and should not be made without competent guidance from an attorney after reviewing the personal circumstances from all angles. Ms. Smith strives to have the highest quality working relationship with her clients so that her client are informed, educated, and confident in their decisions on how to address their family law matters.
Ms. Smith's role as an attorney is to help her clients navigate through litigation or settlement proceedings strategically and efficiently. When presenting a client’s case she ensures her client’s goals are highly emphasized throughout the process. To achieve the best possible outcome, Ms. Smith believes she and her clients must work together to be creative, employ logical solutions, and use all the tools available through the settlement or litigation proceedings.
Ms. Smith grew up in East Tennessee outside of Knoxville. She attended West Virginia University where she earned her Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science and graduated from the Honors College. After college, she spent a year working as a consultant for Delta Gamma Fraternity which had her work all over the United States and in Canada. Ms. Smith then attended law school at Texas Tech University School of Law where she was selected in her third year of law school to participate in the Civil Legal Assistance Clinic where she was the lead attorney on a variety of civil cases including many family law matters.
Upon graduation from Texas Tech Law and passing the North Carolina Bar Exam, Ms. Smith relocated to Charlotte and began her practice of law. She focused her practice on family law and domestic matters first with Hatcher Law Group, P.C. She then opened the Charlotte office of the national family law firm Cordell Law, LLP. Ms. Smith now brings her unique skills and compassion for her clients through her years of experience. She finds her work and relationships with clients most rewarding as she is able to help clients achieve their goals, protect their families, and allow them to financially provide for their families and themselves.
Practice Areas
5
Practice Areas
Alimony
20%
18 years
Child Custody
20%
18 years
Child Support
20%
18 years
Divorce and Separation
20%
18 years
Fees and Rates
Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.
Search our directory
Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.
Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.
Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.
Chat withLicenses
Licensed in North Carolina for 18 years
State: North Carolina
Acquired: 2007
No misconduct found
Location
GraserSmith, PLLC
223 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC, 28203
Gallery
Ad
Transform legal challenges into solutions.
Connect now to review your situation.
Tonya Graser Smith's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
13 Client Reviews
Filter Avvo Reviews (13)
Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Practice Areas
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 review | Lawsuits & Disputes
Posted by anonymous | November 24, 2011 | Lawsuits & Disputes
If you need a professional lawyer, here she is!
I was very impressed with Ms. Graser's preparedness and professional conduct during my hearing, I could not have asked for better representation.
Tonya Graser Smith's Lawyer Endorsements
"I attended a weeklong family law trial advocacy session with Tonya. She is a well-prepared, well-trained family law attorney. When I need a North Carolina Family Law attorney, Tonya is always at the top of my list."
"Tonya is a smart and tenacious lawyer. She is a strong advocate and genuinely cares for clients."
"I've known Tonya for years both professionally and personally. Tonya and I have had cases representing opposite spouses, and I have also mediated for her. Tonya passionately advocates for her clients while remaining calm and level-headed in the courtroom. She takes a big picture approach, but focuses on getting the best result for her client when court is the only option. She is also respected by the lawyers and judges in our community. I highly recommend Tonya to anyone looking for a strong litigator in the courtroom."
"I endorse this lawyer. Ms. Smith is an excellent attorney who is an effective and passionate advocate for her clients."
"Tonya is a knowledgeable and experienced family law attorney. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law with experience both in and out of the courtroom. Tonya is a strong advocate for her clients and well respected among her colleagues."
"Tonya is an amazing attorney with a quick legal mind and a strong desire to obtain the best results for her clients. Tonya is caring and detail oriented yet very efficient. I highly recommend Tonya!"
"Highly experienced in all domestic matters. Tonya is an incredibly strong advocate for her clients- whether it's negotiating settlements or litigating in the courtroom. She is also one of those rare attorneys who will return your call within 24 hours."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I have worked with Tonya for quite a while on matters of family law. She is an exceptional and fair attorney. I do recommend and endorse Tonya."
"I wholeheartedly endorse Ms. Graser-Smith. She is a caring and knowledgeable advocate for her clients."
"Attorney Smith is extremely knowledgable, hard-working, and personable. I endorse this lawyer."
"Tonya has a keen sense when representing clients, especially in family law matters. She diligently represents her clients and anyone would be well fit to have Tonya Smith as their attorney. I recommend and endorse her."
"Tonya is an exceptional talent. She treats people with respect and handles matters with integrity. With a results focused approach, she provides the highest quality of representation."
"As a fellow domestic attorney in Tonya's firm, I have been privileged to observe her skills and expertise firsthand. She is organized, pays great attention to detail, and is an outstanding advocate for her clients. Most importantly, she is highly responsive to her clients and finely attuned to their needs. I have a great amount of respect for Tonya, and I would refer family to her without hesitation."
"Ms. Graser and I worked on opposite sides of a high-conflict family law matter. I found her to be highly professional and a worthy advocate. She was helpful in coming up with ideas for resolving the matter without having to battle everything out in the courtroom. We were able to resolve the case so that both our clients interests were served."
"I have known Tonya Graser for several years now and and I have found her to be a knowledgeable family law attorney who works hard to achieve results for her clients."
"Tonya is highly professional and experienced.She is also a pleasure to work with and a great choice for your family law needs."
"Tonya is a fine family law attorney who works very hard for her clients. She is very professional, thorough and caring. She is an asset to our legal community in Charlotte and on AVVO."
Ketan Soni
Mediation lawyer
Barbara Rynne
Criminal defense lawyer
Andrew Rheingrover
Family lawyer
Rebecca Robison
Family lawyer
Laura Burt
Family lawyer
Ashley Foley
Family lawyer
Matthew Marcellino
Family lawyer
Tamara Huckert
Employment and labor lawyer
Cody Cofer
Criminal defense lawyer
Paul Tharp
Unknown lawyer
Eric Navarrette
Family lawyer
Ryan Smith
Criminal defense lawyer
Lloyd Kelso
Family lawyer
J. Smith
Criminal defense lawyer
Caroline Wingate
Family lawyer
Rebecca Watts
Family lawyer
Matthew Arnold
Family lawyer
Experience
Honors
2018
Legal Elite, North Carolina Business
2018
Rising Stars, Super Lawyers
2017
Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2015
Collaborative Law for Family Law, Collaborative Law Practice Training
2015
Legal Elite, North Carolina Business
2013
Board Certified Specialist - Family Law, North Carolina State Bar
N/A
Nominated for Emerging Leaders 2011, Lawyers Weekly Emerging Leaders
Work Experience
2016 - Present
Founder and Managing Member, Graser Smith PLLC
2014 - 2014
Attorney, Managing Member, Law Office of Tonya Graser Smith, PLLC
2014 - 2016
Attorney, Burt & Cordes, PLLC
2012 - 2014
Partner, Arnold & Smith, PLLC
2009 - 2012
Attorney, Cordell Law, LLP
2007 - 2009
Attorney, Hatcher Law Group, PC
Associations
2016 - Present
Charlotte Collaborative Divorce ProfessionalsMember
2014 - Present
Women Lawyers of Charlotte (formally Charlotte Women's Bar Association)Member
North Carolina Bar Association
Member
Mecklenburg County Bar Association
Member
North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys, Membership Committee
Member
Women Lawyers of Charlotte (formally) Charlotte Women's Bar Association, Membership Committee and Program Board Member
Co-chair
Mecklenburg County Bar
Volunteer Lawyers
Sample of Legal Cases
Various Family Law Litigation and Mediation Cases
Positive outcomes for clients related to personal client goals.
Education
2013
North Carolina Bar
Board Certified Specialist in Family Law
N/A
Texas Tech University School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
N/A
West Virginia University
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2016
Mecklenburg County Bar CLE: SCRA
What You Need to Know About Parties in the Military [More for Family Law Cases]
2015
Mecklenburg County Bar Family Law Section Continuing Legal Education
What You Need to Know About Parties in the Military [for Family Law Cases]
2012
“Family Law Section Lunch & Learn: A Discussion on Contempt”
A Discussion on Contempt
2011
10 Stupidest Mistakes
10 Stupidest Mistakes Men Make When Facing Divorce
2009
Divorce Questions and Answers
Divorce Questions and Answers - Discussion Seminar
Publications
2016
Mecklenburg County Bar Association
What You Need to Know About Parties in the Military [More for Family Law Matters]
2012
“Family Law Section Lunch & Learn: A Discussion on Contempt”
"A Discussion on Contempt”
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
What’s the difference between singing full Custody and signing over rights or are they the same ?
12 May 2018
Q&A
Can my ex husband move in with his new girlfriend and still have our daughter sleep Over?
10 May 2018
Q&A
If me and my wife sign a legal separation document concerning child support in the state of North Carolina
15 May 2018